Price will not be traded while in striking range
They don't have much choice really. They can't afford to sign him to a megadeal. So you try to move him for prospects, or keep him, and he walks, and you get zippo. He will command one of the biggest deals in MLB. I can't see the Rays being in play. Sternberg allowed Friedman to push the payroll over 80mil this season, thinking it would be worth it, if they made the postseason. And even that is in question now. So bottom line, keep him short team and get zero return, or trade him for prospects.
Uh, no. They can trade him in the off season and still get a real good return.
You never want to get to that last season on a guys contract. Say they keep him for the rest of the season, and try to trade him in the offseason. No team is going to trade prospects for a 1 year rental. And he would be in the drivers seat at that point. All he has to do is refuse to sign a long term contract with the prospective new team, and the Rays are screwed. Then he becomes a free agent after the season, and takes the highest offer and the Rays get nothing. If a team acquires him now, they get him for at least this season and next. And they can see if he is open to signing a new long term contract even before the trade is finalized. He said the other day, when asked about a possible trade to Seattle, he wouldn't be interested in signing a long term contract with them. So that tells me he has his eye on a big market team with money to burn. And I can't say I blame him.
Most of the teams that have been linked to him like the Cardinals and Dodgers are teams that can sign him long term.I doubt that he will be traded during this season unless Rays go on a losing streak before the deadline.
I'm glad the Rays are playing well, but the odds of them making the playoffs are still very low. Price's trade value has never been higher. They need to get the most for him they can.And nothing says that they can't win even after they trade Price. I say make the move with either the Dodgers (Seager, Pederson, and a "B" pitching prospect) or Cardinals (Martinez, Taveras, and a "B" pitching prospect.)
Rays would be nuts if they passed on a chance to land both Seager and Pederson.
Rays would be stupid to not trade Price even with the recent success of the team it makes more sense for long term.
Most of the teams that have been linked to him like the Cardinals and Dodgers are teams that can sign him long term.
That may be true, but its his decision, was my point.
